Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972, Lawrence Peter (Yogi) Berra was born in St.Louis, Mo., on May 12, 1925 in a primarily Italian neighborhood called "The Hill".  His parents were Italian immigrants, Pietro ad Paulina Berra. Pietro, from Milan, met Paulina in the United States after arriving at Ellis Island in 1909.

Larry grew up right across the street from his friend, Joe Garagiola on Elizabeth St. and both went to the same school - South Side Catholic- later renamed "St. Mary's High School"- He got his nickname from a friend that thought he looked like a Hindu Holy Man (Yogi) when he sat around with his arms ad legs crossed waiting to bat.
Some time after, Hanna-Barbera created a cartoon character, named after Berra - Yogi Bear. It annoyed him when people started referring to him by that name.

Berra, who quit school in the eight grade, created a reputation by his some times non-sensible quotes and phrases, often affirming and denying simultaneously; like: "I never said half the things I said."

He started playing baseball in local American Legion leagues, developing his skill as a gifted catcher.- The St. Louis Cardinals spurned Berra in favor of his childhood friend, Joe Garagiola. On the surface, they seem to think Garagola superior, but Branch Rickey, then president of the Cardinals; knowing he was about to leave St. Louis to take over
the Brooklyn Dodgers, apparently wanted to hold Yogi off until he had the chance to sign him for the Dodgers.
That came to an end, when the Yankees got to him first and signed him up.

After serving in the Navy during World War II, where he was a gunner's mate in the "D" Day Invasion, Berra played minor league baseball with the Newark Bears, before
being called to play the Major league for seven games in 1946. The following season he played 86 games with the Yankees, and would play more than a hundred in each of the following 14 years.- During his nineteen-year career with the Yankees, Yogi appeared in fourteen World Series, winning ten championships; and is arguably the most beloved player since Babe Ruth.- He was one of the only four players to be named "The Most Valuable Player of the American League" three times; and one of only six managers to lead both, American and National League teams to the World Series.
Lawrence (Yogi) Berra lives in New Jersey.
Here are some of his most famous quotes and phrases:

"It ain't over till it's over"
"You better cut the pizza in four pieces. I am not hungry enough to eat six."
"You can observe a lot just watching"
"This is like deja vu, all over again."
   Interviewer:  "Why.., You are a fatalist!" Yogi: "You mean I save postage stamps? Not me."

GOOD BLESS YOU YOGI !  YOU ARE A CREDIT TO THE GAME.